Articles by: Carole Karabashian

Race for Education Just Three Weeks Away — Let’s Keep Reaching Out to Family, Friends to be a Race Sponsor

The Race for Education is just three weeks away and we need every student and teacher from PreK3 to the 12th grade to reach out to family members and friends to ask them to be a Race sponsor.  Over $35,000 could be raised if every student and teacher received just $50 from their sponsors and if everyone raised $100 from sponsors that would total over $70,000! Please find time over this holiday weekend to send some emails or share the ACS Race flyer on Facebook and help us reach and exceed our $40,000 goal.

To date, ACS has received over $12,000 in donations and pledges from sponsors. Thank you to everyone who has already donated or reached out to prospective sponsors.  Let’s keep pressing on over the next three weeks and encouraging others to come on board as sponsors.

Giving to the Race for Education is easy — just go to our Race website — www.race4ed.com/aceht.

An email was sent to every parent and staff member on Monday, October 4 encouraging everyone to participate in the Race fundraiser. The email included an email template that can be easily forwarded to family and friends.  Just click the email’s “Forward” button, remove the message in the email and add your own, add your email addresses in the TO: field and hit send.

Sponsors can give any amount, but if they donate $50 or more, a special Race sneaker sign with the sponsor’s name and the name of the student they are sponsoring will be posted on a school hallway wall or in a classroom as a sign of support. Donors can also be a “Classroom Sponsor” (for a gift of $200) or an “Event Sponsor” (for a gift of $400). Individual yard signs with the names/logos of Classroom and Event sponsors will be placed around the edge of the track on Race Day to encourage all of our runners. In addition, the names/logos of our “Event Sponsors” will go on a banner hung at the school for the week prior to and on Race Day.

CLICK ON the flyer below to go to the Race donation website.

 

Peter Pan Jr. Musical Cast Announced; Tickets and Ads Go on Sale October 17

Congratulations to the 46 students from elementary to high school who were selected for the cast of our November 19-20 production of the musical “Peter Pan Jr.” Show Director Genevieve Huff got rehearsals underway in mid-September and she is very excited to see the students working hard at their weekly Wednesday rehearsals on perfecting their singing and choreography. Two performances of Peter Pan, Jr. will be held on Friday, November 19 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 20 at 2 p.m. Show tickets and ads will go on sale on Sunday, October 17 on the ACS website.

“I was very happy to find a part for every student who auditioned and I love seeing the energy and enthusiasm that they are bringing to every rehearsal,” Huff said. “This is going to be a very entertaining show and a great opportunity to highlight the artistic gifts and abilities of our students.”

The role of Peter Pan will be played 10th grader Kaia Barbour, with 10th grader Ryleigh Martin as the understudy. Captain Hook has been double cast, to be played by 11th grader Evan Power and 10th grader Vera Huff.

In the Darling family, the role of Mr. Darling will be played by 12th grader Asher Dawkins. Mrs. Darling was double cast, to be played by 12th grader Caeli Barbour and 11th grader Jada Logan. The role of Wendy was also double cast, to be played by 7th grader Rowynn Shevlin and 8th grader Chloe Weyman. 4th grader Anthem Correa will play the role of John, one of Wendy’s brothers, with 5th grader Chase Hagel as the understudy. 5th grader Brantley Haltom will play the role of Michael, Wendy’s youngest brother, with 5th grader Lillian Porreca as the understudy. Liza, the maid in the Darling household, will be played by 5th grader Emily Kinch.

Fifteen students will be part of the motley crew of pirates led by Captain Hook, with 12th grader Destiny Brewer playing the role of pirate Smee, and Jada Logan as her understudy.  Another  ensemble of 14 students will be part of the group of lost boys who live in Never Land.  Another 11 students will be featured as the Brave Girls, companions to Tiger Lily, who will be played by 4th grader Megan Connolly, with 5th grader Eva Dimashi as her understudy.

Pictured below are the members of the Peter Pan Jr. cast after a recent rehearsal.

 

We Have Spirit, Yes We Do! Green-and-White Day, Pep Rallies Next Friday, Oct. 15

ACS students and staff will have the opportunity to show their school spirit on Green-and-White Day next Friday, October 15. Students from the 6th-12th grades will also gather for Pep Rallies to get our Varsity and Middle School Soccer teams fired up for their home games later in the day. The Middle School Boys’ Soccer team will play Margate at 3:45 p.m. and the Varsity teams will face off against Pilgrim Academy in the evening. Students and staff may wear green and white clothing with jeans to school on October 15. No holey jeans or leggings are permissible.

The Middle School Pep Rally will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the High School Pep Rally will be from 1:30-2:45 p.m. Both pep rallies will be held outdoors on the Varsity Boys’ soccer field.

The Varsity Girls’ Soccer Game will begin at 5 p.m. and the Varsity Boys’ Soccer Game will kick off at 7 p.m. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner has arranged for lighting on the fields for these two special evening games playing our crosstown rival, Pilgrim Academy. Come on out and cheer our ACS Cougars to victory!

 

Sign Up for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Wednesday, Oct. 13

The first Parent-Teacher Conferences of this school year for parents with students in Kindergarten to the 12th grade will be on Wednesday, October 13 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. A Parent-Teacher conference is not mandatory, but is recommended if your child is not performing well academically (a grade of 70 or below in any subject) or is having trouble acclimating to the new school year.  Scheduling an in-person conference with a teacher is done using an on-line scheduling tool called Sign Up Genius and time slots are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

An email containing more detailed information about scheduling a conference with a specific teacher was sent to K-5 parents from Elementary Principal Gail Alford on October 4. Upper School Principal Meg McHale also sent an email this week to parents about the conferences.

For the health and safety of our school families and staff, all parents and guests are required to wear a mask while in the school building. If you are not feeling well, please reschedule or request a meeting by Zoom. Also, it is important that children are not present during the conference, unless the teacher has requested it.

Links to the scheduling sites are listed below:

If your student is in grades K-5 — CLICK HERE to schedule a conference.

If your student is in grades 6-12 — CLICK HERE to schedule a conference.

Boscov’s Shopping Day — Wednesday, Oct. 20; Buy Your 25% Discount Pass for $5 from ACS

The Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” charitable shopping event is just 12 days away — on Wednesday, October 20. Did you buy your special shopping pass yet that will entitle you to a 25% discount for all in-store purchases that day?   If not, you can get your discount pass from the ACS office for just $5 and ACS keeps 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the passes.

Order forms were sent home to elementary students last week and will be sold next week at the afternoon car pick-up line. There is no limit on the number of passes you can purchase. Buy one for yourself and purchase others to give as gifts to family members and friends. You can also purchase a shopping pass by visiting the school office or calling 609-653-1199, ext. 323.

The participating Boscov’s store in Egg Harbor Township will be open for shopping on October 20 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.  As an added incentive, Boscov’s is locating special Ballot Boxes in every  store. Customers can fill out the bottom portion of their Shopping Pass, tear it off, and drop it in the Ballot Box. One customer from each store will receive a $100 Boscov’s Gift Card.

Thank you for supporting ACS with this shopping opportunity and please encourage your family members and friends to participate as well.

October 22 Blood Drive Rescheduled to December 1

The American Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for Friday, October 22 at the ACS campus has been rescheduled to Wednesday, December 1 from 3:30-8:30 p.m.  Make your appointment to donate blood on the Red Cross website — redcrossblood.org OR call 1-800-REDCROSS.

If you made an appointment for the October 22 blood drive, the Red Cross plans to contact you to ask if you can reschedule to the later date.

ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives at its campus since 2008, organized under the auspices of the Student Council.  Please mark your calendar for the December 1 blood drive and help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in our community. Our goal for the December 1 blood drive will be to collect 40 or more donations.

 

 

New “Deeply Rooted” T-Shirt Available for ACS Parents, Supporters

Want to spread the inspiring Biblical message of our 2021 Spiritual Development Theme in our community? ACS is now offering a new T-shirt featuring our “Deeply Rooted: Fearless and Blessed” logo image for purchase for a limited time by parents and supporters of ACS. All proceeds will benefit the Parent-Teacher Fellowship.

The T-shirt is black, with the logo image based on Jeremiah 17:7-8 displayed in white on the front of the shirt. The order form is available online.  The deadline to place an order is Friday, October 22 and the shirts will be delivered to the school on Thursday, October 28.

The price of the T-shirts is $15 each for sizes Small to X-Large and $18 each for 2XL-4XL.

Please note that the T-shirts are not for ACS students and are not approved school attire.

CLICK HERE to place your order.

We Love Our Volunteers — Great Way to Get Involved in Our School

Volunteers are an important part of school life at ACS and we are blessed each year to see the servant hearts of our parents, guardians, grandparents, and friends in the community who are willing to give of their time and talents to make the school day experience at ACS the best it can be. As this school year gets underway, we are in need of volunteers to help in a variety of areas, which are described below. Please consider how you can be involved in the ACS Family by serving as a volunteer.

  • Lunchroom Volunteers — Volunteers are needed to serve lunch and help with light clean-up. Volunteers can choose to serve daily, once a week, or once a month. The serving time is from 10 am to 1 pm. We can accommodate anyone’s schedule. To sign up, please contact Services Coordinator Anne Block at ablock@acseht.org or call 609-653-1199, ext. 381.
  • Race for Education Volunteers — We need volunteers to help with the Race for Education on Race Day on Friday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. outdoors at the ACS track.  The volunteer duties include being a Race lap counter, serving at the water and popcorn stations, and being a Race photographer. To sign up, please contact Carole Karabashian, ACS Director of Development and Communication, at ckarabashian@acseht.org or call 609-653-1199, ext. 323.
  • Servant’s Heart Club — Volunteers are needed to assist with the after-school Servant’s Heart Club. The Club meets the first Friday of every month from October to May 3:15-4:00 p.m., with the first meeting on Friday, October 1. The club is for students in grades 2-5 and is focused on doing creative, hands-on service projects aimed at blessing people in our school and local community.  Past service activities that the club has conducted include: making snack bags and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, wrapping Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child, planting trees on the ACS campus and promoting recycling on Earth Day, and making salvation friendship bracelets to be gifted to children in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Club Advisor Mrs. Jennifer DiMaio at 609-432-2030.

Varsity, Middle School Soccer Seasons Off to a Great Start; Former MLS Pro Player Gives MS Boys’ Team Pointers at Recent Practice

Our Varsity and Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ soccer seasons are off to a great start this fall.  The Varsity Boys are 7-1 and the Varsity Girls are 6-1, playing strong in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference and also against a number of area public school teams. The Middle School Boys are 3-0 in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League and the Middle School Girls are 1-2. Check out the Athletic Calendar on the ACS website for upcoming game information. Come on out and cheer on our Cougars to victory!

One exciting upcoming game will be on Friday, October 15, when ACS faces off against Pilgrim Academy at home under the lights — for two special evening games. The Varsity Girls’ game will begin at 5 p.m. and the Varsity Boys’ game will kick off at 7 p.m. All games will be played on the Varsity Boys’ turf field. Welcome back to Varsity Girls’ coach Carly Witherow and Varsity Boys’ coach Andres Tortola.

The Middle School Boys’ team got special training at a recent practice from a guest coach — former Major League Soccer (MLS) player, Rich Balchan. Balchan played professional soccer from 2011-2017, including stints with two MLS teams — the Columbus Crew in Ohio and the Real Salt Lake in Utah. Balchan now lives in Atlantic County and is the Director of Coaching at Hamilton Elite FC, a youth soccer club in Mays Landing.

Middle School Boys’ head coach David O’Donnell invited Balchan to work with his team and felt it had a positive impact on his young players. “Our boys really got some good insight into the kind of skills and discipline that are needed to become a professional athlete,” O’Donnell said.  Balchan led the players in passing and receiving skills and guided them on game play movement, positioning, and strategy.  He also posed with the players for a team photo during the practice. Balchan said he also plans to offer his coaching skills at an upcoming Varsity Boys’ soccer team practice.

 

 

ACS Spirit Day at Texas Roadhouse — Friday, Oct. 22

Join us! ACS Spirit Day at Texas Roadhouse in Egg Harbor Township will be on Friday, October 22 from 4 p.m. to closing. Enjoy hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, made-from-scratch sides, and fresh-baked bread and help raise funds for ACS Athletics.  Please mention “Atlantic Christian School” when you order.  The restaurant is located at 6801 E. Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township. Hope to see you there!

Join Us for Homecoming 2021 – Saturday, Oct. 23

The ACS school family, alumni, family members, and friends are invited to Homecoming 2021 on Saturday, October 23, with our Varsity Soccer Teams facing off against ACS Alumni Boys’ and Girls’ Teams.  Our Varsity Girls vs Alumni Girls game will begin at noon and the Varsity Boys vs Alumni Boys game will kick off at 2:00 p.m. The Homecoming Court Presentation will be held between the games, from 1:30-2:00 p.m.  Any alumnus who wants to play in the Homecoming Games, please contact Athletic Director Pam Hitchner by October 16, by text at 609-412-7735 or by email at phitchner@acseht.org.

The Homecoming festivities will get underway with Open Basketball and Open Volleyball outdoors for our alumni, families, and friends from 10 a.m. to noon.  There will be lots of great food to enjoy throughout the day, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza, with the proceeds benefiting our athletic programs. Come on out for a fun family day to cheer for our current and alumni athletes as they participate in some friendly competition.

In the evening, our annual Homecoming Dance will be held in the ACS gym for ACS high school students and their guests from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Race for Education Fundraiser Kicks Off — Help Us Reach Our $40,000 Goal

Our 19th annual Race for Education fall fundraiser, to be held on Friday, October 29, kicked off the week of September 20 and donations are already coming in. Please make a gift online today and help us reach and exceed our goal of $40,000 to support our educational programs and activities this year.

Race fundraising packets were sent home with PreK3-8th grade students and were mailed to parents of 9th-12th grade students. Let’s work together and reach out to our family members, friends, and local businesses to make this fundraiser our most successful ever.

Throughout Race Day on Friday, October 29, students in various grade-level groups will walk, run, or jog around our track for a 30-minute period, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To add to the fun, the Middle School and High School races will incorporate an obstacle course.

We are once again using a Race website where everyone can give online. Parents, students, and teachers can participate by sending an email to people you know asking them to be a Race sponsor and giving them the link to our fundraising website — www.race4ed.com/aceht.

Sponsors can give any amount, but if they donate $50 or more, a special Race sneaker sign with the sponsor’s name and the name of the student they are sponsoring will be posted on a school hallway wall or in a classroom as a sign of support. Donors can also be a “Classroom Sponsor” (for a gift of $200) or an “Event Sponsor” (for a gift of $400). Individual yard signs with the names/logos of Classroom and Event sponsors will be placed around the edge of the track on Race Day to encourage all of our runners. In addition, the names/logos of our “Event Sponsors” will go on a banner hung at the school for the week prior to and on Race Day.

Below are some photo highlights from our 2020 Race.

CLICK HERE to make a Race Donation.

Back-to-School BBQ a Great Time of Fellowship, Building Friendships

Our annual Back-to-School BBQ on September 17 was a great night of fellowship and a time to grow closer together as a school family. It was our biggest BBQ ever as we welcomed over 850 new and returning parents, students, staff, grandparents, and alumni for an enjoyable evening of  good food and lots of games and activities for students of every age.

The favorite activities included the Rock Wall, Ga Ga Ball, 9-Square in the Air, several inflatables, and going to the face-painting table.  The BBQ-goers also enjoyed several new food offerings — Kona Water Ice, Funnel Cake, and Chef Steve’s Kettle Corn Popcorn. Children and families also enjoyed a tractor-pulled wagon ride around the ACS campus, provided by the Pricskett family, whose son, Noah, drove the tractor. The Pricsketts, who are alumni parents and own Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, also provided dozens of picnic tables for seating at the BBQ.

Thank you to the many volunteers, including members of the Board of Directors, faculty, and staff, who were busy at the BBQ grill, serving at the food buffet line, doing face-painting, monitoring the student activities, and helping with set-up and clean-up.

We are also grateful to several businesses, a church, school families, and vendors who donated food, beverages, and equipment to help keep the cost of the BBQ affordable for our families. These donors included: Atlantic City Bread Company, Beacon Evangelical Free Church, Big Time Vending, Bimbo Bakeries, Ralph Clayton, Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar and Joe and Amanda Gregory, Herr Foods, Kris Jacoby, Liberty Coca-Cola, Doug and Lori Pearson, Steve and Alisun Richards, Sysco, and Paul and Terry Vogel.  A special thank-you also to ACS high school students on the Yearbook Staff who took the photos at the BBQ — Vera Huff, Mia Liggins, Amber Ramos, and Summer Scott.

 

 

ACS Students, Staff, Families Come Together to Prayer at See You at the Pole

Several dozen students, faculty, staff, and family members gathered for a time of prayer around the ACS flagpoles as part of the annual national “See You At the Pole” event on Wednesday, September 22. The morning gathering before the start of school began with singing led by staff member Kelly Flynn. Students and adults then took turns leading out in prayer as the the group lifted up our school, community, and nation.

Teachers from preschool to high school were also encouraged to bring their classes out to the flagpole area throughout the day during Bible class for a time of prayer.

Four flags can be seen flying daily in the flagpole area on the school campus — the American flag, the Christian flag, the New Jersey state flag, and the POW-MIA flag.

Since 1991, See You at the Pole has grown into a international annual event focused on prayer on school campuses from elementary schools to colleges. Now each year, an estimated 1 million students from all the world participate in See You at the Pole. Students in more than 64 countries have participated.

Variety of After-School Classes Starting Over Next Two Weeks – Sign Up Today

A number of interesting and enriching after-school classes are starting over the next two weeks. Soccer led by Prestige Soccer will begin on September 29 and Gymnastics, Art Studio, Art Workshop, and Intro to Sign Language will begin the week of October 4.  A packet with the Fall Class Schedule and Registration Forms was sent home this week with PreK2-8th grade students. The schedule and registration forms are also posted on the ACS website and on the ACS Family App under “Calendars.”

Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS — Friday, Oct. 22 — Register to Donate

Donate blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, October 22 from 3:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the ACS Gym.

All donors will have their temperature checked prior to admittance to the blood drive. Since 2008, ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives to help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in our community. Our goal for the October 22 blood drive is to collect 40 or more donations.

To donate, please make an appointment on the Red Cross website.

CLICK HERE to make an appointment on the Red Cross website, which is: www.redcrossblood.org OR call 1-800-REDCROSS.  Use the zip code “08234” and find the ACS blood drive by the October 22 date.

 

We’re Hiring! ACS Now Accepting Applications for Substitute Teachers, Early Ed Flex Aides

We’re hiring! ACS is now accepting applications and interviewing qualified candidates for substitute teachers for K-12th grade classes and for Flex Aides to work in our award-winning Early Education Center.

Following is description of the positions:

Substitute Teachers – Elementary and Upper School – Substitutes for K through 12th grade classes are needed. Certified teachers with a degree are preferred. Minimum of 60 credits required. ACS requires its employees to be Christians, living their lives as Christian role models. Spiritual standards must be met and a background check is required.

Early Education Flex Aide – Part-Time — Aides are needed for our Early Education Center classrooms to work Mondays to Fridays with flexible hours available between 7 am and 5:30 pm. High school diploma and experience with young children preferred. ACS requires its employees to be Christians, living their lives as Christian role models. Spiritual standards must be met and a background check is required.

CLICK HERE for more information and to apply. Also, please SHARE our Facebook posts about these job openings with your contacts. Thank you.

Support ACS by Purchasing a Boscov’s Discount Pass for October 20 Shopping Event

Boscov’s is once again holding its “Friends Helping Friends” charitable shopping event on Wednesday, October 20 and ACS will be participating by selling $5 discount shopping passes. The shopping passes will be available in the school office starting on Tuesday, September 28 and will entitle shoppers to a 25% discount at Boscov’s on October 20 for all in-store purchases.

ACS will keep 100% of the proceeds from the sales of the shopping passes, which will go into the ACS Annual Fund.  There is no limit on the number of passes you can purchase. Buy one for yourself and purchase others to give as gifts to family members and friends.

To purchase a shopping pass, please visit the school office or call 609-653-1199, ext. 323.

The participating Boscov’s store in Egg Harbor Township will be open for shopping on October 20 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.  As an added incentive, Boscov’s is locating special Ballot Boxes in every  store. Customers can fill out the bottom portion of their Shopping Pass, tear it off, and drop it in the Ballot Box. One customer from each store will receive a $100 Boscov’s Gift Card.

Thank you for supporting ACS with this shopping opportunity and please encourage your family members and friends to participate as well.

 

Music Department Seeking Donations of Violins, Woodwind, Brass Instruments

Do you have a musical instrument gathering dust in a closet that you are not playing any more? Our Music Department is seeking to acquire additional woodwind and brass instruments as well as several string instruments for use by our 4th and 5th grade students in Elementary Band as well as by students in the Middle School-High School Band.

Tim Rosie, ACS Director of Choral and Instrumental Music, said he welcomes donations of used instruments that are still in good working condition. The specific wish list of instruments is:

Flutes – 2
French Horns – 3
Trombones – 6
Trumpets – 5
Violins – 3

Please contact Mr. Rosie with any questions at trosie@acseht.org.

Thank you.

 

SpiritWear Sale Extended to Monday, Sept. 27 – Order Online Today

The ACS SpiritWear sale has been extended to Monday, September 27. Place your order today online and help promote school spirit while raising funds for our school.

SpiritWear items for sale include a variety of hoodies and sweatshirts and a personalized water bottle.  SpiritWear is for ACS families, with sizes available from preschool to adult. SpiritWear is also approved apparel that can be worn by students during the school day.

CLICK HERE to order your SpiritWear online.

The Parent Teacher Fellowship, who sponsors the sale, decided to extend the order deadline from September 10 to Monday,  September 27 to give more families an opportunity to purchase the popular items.

SpiritWear sweatshirts come as an ACS hoodie or crewneck in green or gray and feature the school name, logo, and Cougar paw. Green full-zip hooded sweatshirts are also available with the school logo. The metal water bottles can be personalized and come in green or black with the school name, flame logo, and a last name, all engraved in silver.

Prices for the sweatshirts and hoodies range from $26-$45, depending on the item and size. A personalized water bottle is $25.

Parents can choose to have their SpiritWear delivered to their student at school, reserved for pickup at the ACS front desk, or mailed.

Smiles Were Contagious on First Day of School — We’re Off to a Great Start!

Students and parents were welcomed with smiles and hi-fives by faculty, staff, and Corgy the Cougar, our school mascot, as they arrived by car and school bus on the first day of school on Wednesday, September 8. Our 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store! Students in Kindergarten and in the Senior Class posed for special pictures to mark the day as a milestone in their lives.

Family members also enjoyed taking photos in front of the ACS photo backdrop set up at the main school entrance. Thank you to members of our Parent-Teacher Fellowship for being part of the welcome team and serving up hot coffee and pastries.

ACS 2021-2022 School Spiritual Development Theme — Deeply Rooted

What does it mean to be “Deeply Rooted”? Students began exploring the answer to that question during the first Thursday chapels of the school year on September 9. Elementary Principal Gail Alford and Upper School Principal Meg McHale spoke during the Elementary and Middle School/High School Chapels about the meaning of our 2021-2022 Spiritual Development Theme drawn from Jeremiah 17:7-8. The theme was also introduced during the devotional at the Early Ed and Kindergarten Chapel on September 10.

Alford and McHale talked to the students about the importance of having faith that is deeply rooted in God’s Word so that they are able to to stand firm and strong when temptations come and the lies of the world challenge their faith.

“As young people, you are surrounded by so much pressure to conform to what society says is normal or true, but society’s norms do not line up with the truth in the Word of God,” said Mrs. McHale, pictured below left, during the Upper School Chapel. “We have to study and know what God wants us to be, the way He designed us, and stand firm with deep roots in that knowledge.”

Mrs. Alford encouraged the 1st-5th graders in Elementary Chapel to help make their faith deeply rooted by surrounding themselves with friends who will encourage them in their faith, to attend church regularly, and to read their Bible every day. “We want to see each of you grow into a tree that everyone loves to see, that is strong with healthy roots,” said Alford, pictured below right.

The Spiritual Development Theme and verse are being prominently displayed on posters and on bulletin boards throughout the school building and in classrooms. On the first day of school, faculty and staff wore T-shirts promoting the theme and students will soon be receiving class T-shirts with the theme to wear throughout the year.

Please pray with us that our students will grow closer in their relationship with God throughout this year as they encounter lessons and activities focused on being deeply rooted — fearless and blessed.

 

Teachers, Staff Excited for New School Year, Received Important In-Service Training

ACS teachers worked hard preparing their classrooms to be a warm, loving, and welcoming place for their students as the school year got underway on September 8. In late August, teachers and staff attended In-Service training and workshops where they had an opportunity to get acquainted, review school policies and procedures, and focus on this year’s spiritual development theme — “Deeply Rooted” — based on Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen welcomed and introduced the 17 new employees who have joined the ACS faculty/staff this year (pictured below left). The new employees are: Boys’ PE teacher Joshua Clark; 5th grade teacher Kaitlin D’aquilante; Spanish teacher Minelva Guevara; 2nd grade teacher Kristen Hockenberry; 3rd grade teacher Genevieve Huff; High School Bible teacher Pastor Urick Lewis; 2nd grade teacher Nayda Lorick; 1st grade teacher Lauren McCartney; 6th grade teacher Taylor McCreight; 3rd grade teacher Melissa Myers; Early Education Aide and Middle School/High School cooking teacher Jessica Shoemaker; Middle School Language Arts teacher Linda Stiteler; High School Bible, History, and Language Arts teacher Robin Tolg; Early Education Aide Michelle Wheeler; 4th grade teacher Kimberly Wroniuk; Event Coordinator Joshua Zimmer;  and Elementary Music Teacher Juliana Zimmer.  Oblen also introduced another nine faculty and staff members who transferred to new positions this year (pictured below right).

Members of the Parent-Teacher Fellowship provided a tasty taco-themed lunch on Monday. On Tuesday, members of the Board of Directors donated and served breakfast and Board member Pastor Chaz Wyckoff of Friendship Bible Church delivered the devotion focused on Romans 14:1-4.  Pastor Wyckoff urged the faculty and staff to strive for unity as part of the one body of Christ and to seek to glorify God in everything they do.

Each In-Service session began with worship led by Business Administrator Kelly Flynn, faculty member Amy Parker, Director of Choral and Instrumental Music Tim Rosie, and Facilities Director Bill Smallwood.  On Tuesday, Shawn Hyland of the Family Policy Alliance of NJ also gave an informative presentation on the status of legislation and curriculum in New Jersey that is infringing on religious beliefs and the Christian worldview and is promoting various political ideologies.

We’re ready for an exciting year of growing and learning.

Make Plans to Attend Upcoming Back-to-School Nights – Sept. 14 & 21

Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend our upcoming Back-to-School Nights on Tuesday, September 14, and Tuesday, September 21.  The September 14 event is for parents and guardians of children in kindergarten to the 5th grade and the September 21 event is for parents and guardians of students in the 6th-12th grades. Both events will begin at 6:30 p.m. and masks will be required to be worn when indoors.

Our teachers and staff are looking forward to sharing with you all the good things that are going on in our school and in your children’s lives.  Here are a few of the ways you can benefit by coming to Back-to-School Night:

– Meet and talk with your child’s teachers;
– Visit your child’s classroom and even sit at his/her desk;
– Meet other parents in your child’s class;
– Get an early look at some of your child’s classwork;
– Hear about upcoming school events;
– Find out ways you can get involved in our school as a volunteer;
– Learn about the variety of after-school enrichment classes and clubs offered throughout the school year to our students and their families

The Elementary Back-to-School Night on September 14 will have two, 45-minute sessions, from 6:30-7:10 p.m. and from 7:20-8:00 p.m.  Details about the Upper School Back-to-School Night on September 21 will be sent to 6th-12th grade parents and guardians in an upcoming email from Upper School Principal Meg McHale.

Come Out to Our 17th Annual Back-to-School BBQ — Friday, Sept. 17

We invite all of our ACS families, faculty, and staff to make plans to attend our 17th annual family Back-to-School BBQ on Friday, September 17, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. The BBQ menu will include hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled BBQ pork, a variety of salads, Kona water ice, and much more, with games and activities for our students to enjoy. The BBQ is a great way to meet new families, see old friends, and get better acquainted with each other as a school family.

The cost is $7 per person with a cap of $25 per family (immediate family members only). Tickets can be pre-purchased in the school office or at the BBQ.

In the event of rain, the rain date will be Friday, September 24.